St Blazey dismiss Covid-19 breachers
DISGRACED South Western League club, St Blazey, have confirmed they have parted company with joint-managers Matt Hayden and Shaun Vincent as well as the players that were involved in the club’s controversial Chistmas party back in December.
A video of several players and coaching staff emerged of them at an Airbnb in Plymouth arguing with the owner, who asked them to leave after several complaints had been made due to excess noise.
During the argument, a call to the police is threatened by the property host and a man, who claims to be one of the team’s managers, orders people inside the room to leave.
In a bizarre twist of events, the video was alleged to have been filmed by Claire Nicholson, the wife of TV presenter and actor Les Dennis. The two were also staying in the property as Dennis was in pantomime at the nearby Theatre Royal.
The video shows players clearly in breach of Covid protocol and was met with disgust by St Blazey committee members, who said they were ‘truly appalled’ by events. Now, they have wasted no time in getting rid of all those that were involved that night.
A statement, released on the club’s Twitter account, read: “The club can confirm that joint managers Matt Hayden and Shaun Vincent, as well as the players involved during the events of the Christmas Covid-19 breach, have been relieved of their roles as St Blazey AFC players/managers.
“The club would like to place on record their sincere thanks for the hard work of Matt and Shaun as well as all of the players efforts on the pitch.
“A full statement will be released in due course.”
The Cornwall FA said it will not charge St Blazey following the alleged Covid-19 breach, even though they were forced to postpone games over the festive period against St Austell on Boxing Day and then St Dennis.
The cancellations caused uproar on social media after players shared a group squad photo from a night out in Plymouth on Saturday, December 19.
A statement from the Cornwall FA read: “Cornwall FA investigated allegations made against the management team and players of St Blazey AFC following an incident on the 19th December in Plymouth.
“Having taken advice and guidance from The FA it has been agreed that the incident does not fall within the jurisdiction of The Cornwall FA to issue charges via the Football judicial process.
“All information has now been forwarded on to the Devon & Cornwall Police to pursue Civil action against the individuals concerned.”